As we go on with our lives we often don’t recall that we spend most of our time at work. It could seem something obvious for some, but we seem to simply forget about it sometimes.
You probably have heard about personal fit before, and here instead of bring information that may put yourself in a situation where you will start asking what would happen if you end up in a workplace that doesn’t fit your expectations, or what can you do to avoid the feeling that going to work is meaningless, we want to highlight to you the complete opposite.
We have talked to Simone, Trade Marketing Specialist at Whirlpool & AIESEC Alumni, and he shared how working in a place where you feel personally fulfilled is like. Let’s see it?
Describe your career so far
I joined AIESEC during my master’s in Business and Administration at Trento University. Before becoming a passionate AIESECer I was part of two different AIESEC Projects around the world. First I was part of a Global Volunteer project in India, later on I took part in a Global Talent project in Lithuania. Two memorable experiences that helped me grow personally and professionally.
After university, I joined Whirlpool in 2017 as a marketing intern in the Refrigeration Category Team. I truly enjoyed my first experience of analyzing data and insights to determine industry and consumer trends, developing long-term strategies for product categories, defining price and positioning.
Now – After my internship, I became a Trade Marketing Specialist at Whirlpool’s Italian Commercial organization. Here, together with my team, I develop and execute commercial and marketing strategies with retail and online partners.
Which are the most important elements you are looking for in a company?
Personally, in AIESEC, I found out that strong culture shaped around its core values and the vision of making an impact in the world are two elements I look for in a company.
In Whirlpool we call it our WHY and HOW.
The first is the WHY. Why does the company do what it does? What makes us special? What is our ultimate purpose? For me, in Whirlpool, I found that here I can be having an impact in the world improving people’s lives at home.
The second is the HOW. How do we do what we do? How our values and culture translate to daily routines? I like to work in a company where I can openly speak up and share my opinion without being judged. An organization where I feel inspired to be bold, take risks and be accountable for my actions.
In which Whirlpool values do you recognize yourself in?
I feel close to all the Whirlpool values and they became cardinal points in my lifeIf I were to choose one in which I recognize myself the most in, it would be Respect.
Since the very first moment I joined Whirlpool, even as an intern, I immediately felt part of a team and included in the decision making process. Because it was my first working experience I was prepared for simple and boring tasks, but I found the opposite. I felt that my contribution was important and my opinion always respected.
I consider that it is important to respect people’s opinions and ideas, culture and background in order to live in a harmonious society. In the end we are all working for the same organization, trying to reach the same objectives and it is only by working together that we will be able to achieve our goals.
Which AIESEC values helped you to effectively navigate in Whirlpool organization?
It’s funny, but when I entered Whirlpool I found a lot of similarities with AIESEC especially in its values. I continued to feel that I was part of a family sharing the same principles that were so special for me when I was in AIESEC.
In Whirlpool I found the AIESEC value Living Diversity in the value Inclusion and Diversity. also found similarities between the value Demonstrating Integrity and the value called Integrity in Whirlpool. And finally also the Striving for excellence value. I am very passionate about this value as it is very close to my result oriented mindset, which is another common value identified in Whirlpool as the Spirit of winning.
One of the Whirlpool values is “One Whirlpool”. How is this reflecting in your remote workforce reality nowadays?
I believe that during this period of deep crisis, it is important to feel part of a united and cohesive group in order to overcome the situation of isolation that we find ourselves in. Feeling part of a solid team that, despite the difficulties, can achieve exceptional results is the essence of our One Whirlpool value. Smart working is just an example of our ability to adapt to change by putting safety and security first knowing that we, the people, are the most valuable asset of every organization. In fact, even before this difficult period, we were used to working remotely in smart working almost once a week and I think that our agile approach helped us a lot in dealing with this crisis. For example, even if in this moment I am far away from my colleagues, thanks to virtual meetings and shared documents I am able to work and communicate as before. We even organized a virtual aperitivo to remain connected beyond the work.
What is your advice for young professionals today?
My biggest advice is “Get out of your comfort zone”. Get familiar with the feeling of awkwardness and the discomfort of trying something new. It is only when you leave that comfortable place that you can grow professionally and personally. Nowadays we live in a period of constant change and trying to stick to our habits and least effort mindset is a missed opportunity to challenge ourselves. The main challenge will be to control that initial feeling of wanting to go back to the comfort zone. At this moment you will have to be determined and keep moving forward, so that you can grow and benefit from that discomfort.
Get to know more about career opportunities in Whirlpool here.